Mid-February 2011: I joined SparkPeople, and started religiously tracking every calorie I consumed or burned, every glass of water I drank, and a number of other positive steps.

...fast forward...

I'm writing this on April 29, 2011. I've consistently lost 10 pounds per month since I started using SP. All indicators of liver problems are gone. Diabetes tests have come back negative. I am no longer obese. My body seems to be restoring everything back to full working condition. I feel so much more energetic, positive, and generally happy.

I started running in May 2011. My fitness levels? Through the roof! My weight? Planted firmly on the same number for many months. I stopped tracking sometime in September, during my first (highly stressful) semester of grad school, but still managed to keep off about 90% of the 53-pound loss I accumulated in the start of 2011. I ran/walked my first half-marathon in November 2011, a proud accomplishment for me!

That brings us to the current time: January 2012. It's time for me to recommit to my goals and keep going. I'm recovering from having my gallbladder removed in December, so I'm starting with small steps, but I know if I eat right, the exercise will come back to me. I'm rebooting all my goals to reflect what's going NOW, but I'm looking forward to challenging myself as my full health and energy return.

*run! (DONE though marathon training program, tentatively completed in Nov 11, but I may come back for spring yet!)

My Program:
*eat small *drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (9 or 10 is better) *cardio exercise 3-5 sessions per week *strength exercise as needed *track every bit of all of the above *MOST IMPORTANT: stay positive, stay calm, stay in control.

Personal Information:
I'm a special educator and a native Austinite.

Other Information:
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...